WESTMINSTER, Mass.— More than 50,000 government, health care and educational entities now can obtain SimplexGrinnell products and services through a simplified procurement process, thanks to a new four-year contract the company has with the National Joint Powers Alliance.

QUINCY, Mass.—The cost of installing home fire sprinklers has decreased nationwide, and states that mandate home fire sprinklers have even lower installation costs, a new study by the Fire Protection Research Foundation has found.

For the fifth consecutive year, SSN is profiling women who are making their mark in the traditionally male-dominated world of security. Jennifer Jezek, president of York Electronic Systems, is one of seven women featured.

BROKEN ARROW, Okla.—Jennifer Jezek, president of York Electronic Systems, a low voltage provider here, brings a tongue-in-cheek “rhinestone cowgirl” approach to being a woman in a traditionally male industry.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—An insurance company is suing Pinnacle Security in an attempt to recover its costs in a 2011 lawsuit brought against Pinnacle and a monitoring company by the children of a firefighter who died in a house fire.

HOUSTON—Honeywell is expanding its focus on the industrial fire protection market and its new Life Safety Training and Customer Experience Center, which will have its grand opening here Sept. 18, is one indication of its renewed interest in the space, according to the company.

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Poll

It seems that another cloud-based security product or service comes out every day. Do you believe, as 3xLOGIC’s Matt Kushner said, “[Integrators] who continue to offer conventional access and video are going to be adding to a shrinking market. The new, growing market is cloud-based managed services.”? Is 2015 the year that cloud will finally have its security industry day in the sun?

Do you use or offer cloud-based security products/services? *

Yes, cloud is being rapidly adopted everywhere.

Some here, some there.

Cloud is great for many things, physical security is not one of them.

Is the cloud the future? *

Yes, it's definitely where the industry is headed.

Maybe. We need wider adoption before it's a trend.

No. Cloud's actual usability is limited.

What's the biggest benefit of cloud-based security systems? *

Less infrastructure, more security, ease of installation.

RMR for integrators, cost savings for end users.

Marketing departments love it.

Please elaborate on your answers and leave your name and contact information for follow-up.

Verification *Type the characters you see in the picture; if you can't read them, submit the form and a new image will be generated. Not case sensitive. Switch to audio verification.

Videos

Tess talks to Carter Rierson, founder and president of Best Defense Security & Fire Protection, on the need for emergency communications systems in schools in light of school shootings and other emergencies. He advocates a multitiered approach and calls on fire and security manufacturers to work together to come up with ECS solutions that combine the best security and fire technologies.